STIRRUP HITCH
This hitch is useful where the packer has lash rope but no cinch, and may be employed on sawbuck saddle, aparejo, or where the load is hung upon an ordinary riding saddle. It is a two-man hitch, though one man may manipulate it.
(Fig. 1.) Rope is thrown across load with equal portion falling on each side. Loop A is formed on top of load, and the ends BB are passed through it to form large loops C and D.
Stirrup Hitch
(Fig. 2.) Loops C and D are passed under horse's belly and seized by packers on opposite sides. Each packer then draws end of rope which he is holding through loop which has been passed to him. Off packer forms bowline knot, E, and near packer passes his end of rope through this. Hitch is now ready to tighten.
Pass the rope over the load, with an equal division of rope on either side. Form a loop at center and top of load. Each packer will now place a foot upon the rope, where it falls from loop to ground, and pass his end of rope through loop from above down and draw through slack rope. This forms a loop on either side in which the foot rests. Each packer will now bring forward and under the horse's belly the loop in which his foot rests, passing the loop to the other packer at the same time disengaging his foot, and will pass the loose end of rope which he holds through the loop which he receives. The ropes on top of pack will now be spread to properly cover and secure the pack, and all slack taken.
The off side packer now forms a bowline knot in the loose end of his rope, the near side packer passes his loose end through the bowline loop. To tighten the load the off side packer gives slack, while the near side packer braces and draws in on loose end of rope, tying at bowline loop to secure load.